1983 Decorah High School graduate Laura Hubka is running for the State Assembly

Former Decorah resident and Navy veteran Laura Hubka of Riceville is running for the State Assembly in District 51, which includes Fremont, Burr Oak, Orleans, Bluffton, Lincoln and Madison townships in northwestern Winneshiek County and all of Howard, Mitchell and Worth counties.

Hubka is a 1983 graduate of Decorah High School who served in the US Navy for a decade, then returned to work at Winneshiek Medical Center.  She moved to Riceville and currently works for Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, performing ultrasounds at locations in Cresco and New Hampton.

Hubka tells decorahnews.com she was not a particularly political person, "But I think most people can say that they have noticed a pretty stark comparison to the politics of even 10 years ago to today.  I became more involved and watched as many were elected to office and often times failed to listen to the constituents that they serve."  Hubka says "It's time for us to put aside the partisanship, do what's best for everyday Iowans, and grow the middle class again."

This is her first run for political office, but she thinks that's an advantage, saying it's time to have someone just like her constituents represent them in office.

Hubka says she will stress health care issues in her campaign, saying having a strong and healthy Iowa is one of the big challenges we need to face head on.
 
Hubka tells decorahnews.com, "Being a veteran and having one veteran son and another still serving, I am very concerned with veterans issues.  I want our veterans to find jobs, health care, friendly faces and security for them and thier families.  I think that we all owe them that for their service."
 
She says she will also stress educational issues.  "I want our young children to be prepared for kindergarten and our youth to be ready for whatever career path they choose.  Whether it's a university, community college or technical training, education after high school has to be affordable and accessible to all of our graduates so they can land a good-paying job and support their own family."
 
Hubka is the first announced Democratic candidate in District 51.  If she wins the Democratic primary, she will face incumbent Republican Josh Byrnes.
 
Hubka lives in Riceville with her husband, Kenny, who works for Precision of New Hampton. Her oldest son, Robert, served in the US Army in Iraq and now lives his wife in Hubbard, Iowa. Her daughter Katie attends Iowa State University and is studying education.  Brian is the youngest son and he is currently serving in the US Navy in Japan.